ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., April 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EY today announced that Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc., is a semifinalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Orange County Region Award. Now celebrating its 30th year, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs in over 145 cities and 60 countries who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Jeff Coats was selected as a semifinalist by a panel of independent judges. Finalists will be announced Monday, May 23, and winners will be announced at a formal Awards Gala on Friday, June 17, with more than 500 Founders, CEOs and other business leaders in attendance, at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California.
“I became an Autobytel Board Member in 1996, and CEO of Autobytel in 2008, and have had the incredible experience of working with this fine group of people for the past two decades,” said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. “I am extremely proud of what our organization has accomplished since 1995 when we pioneered the automotive Internet, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of such a prestigious awards program. I congratulate all of the semifinalists and I extend a special thank you to the EY team for creating such an exceptional platform that recognizes entrepreneurs for their hard work, determination, and leadership.”
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national award winner, will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards gala is the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Follow all the latest program developments @EY_EOYUS using #EOYOC and visit the Orange County regional website for more information: www.ey.com/us/eoy/oc.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online.
Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing the online registration form at http://investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
About EY’s Strategic Growth Markets practice
EY’s Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
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